The Trump Syndrome: A Disaffected Voter Weighs In on New Post-Election Zeitgeist

Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States has caused a widespread syndrome afllicting by millions of Americans.

If, like me, you have a twisted, acidic, contempt-filled knot in your stomach over the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, don’t panic. It’s a normal reaction to a sexist, misogynistic megalomaniacal con man winning the highest office in the land. Call it the “Trump Syndrome.”

You obviously have the foresight to recognize what we’re in for, for at least the next four years, if not much, much longer.

If, on the other hand, you woke feeling euphoric, with a false sense of the security and prosperity you think you’re about to experience just around the corner, this letter is for you.

I barely got any sleep election night. It wasn’t because the outcome of this election made me realize how many morons populate this country; I already knew that.

I’m just trying to come to grips with the fact that a good portion of the people I like and respect, some of whom I even love, and whom I consider of above average intelligence, just shocked the shit out of me.

Bottom line: I had no idea you were that selfish, stubborn, obtuse and so apathetic. You happily played a part in sacrificing what’s left of our respect for each other, and our nation, just to prove a point.

I’m literally speechless.

Unlike elections past, there’s nothing to feel good about this one. More than a few of you, my friends and relatives, cast your vote for a man who’s made clear his first order of business is to kick half the country’s citizens to the curb.

Forget that fact that Hillary Clinton will beat Trump by 1 million, or more, votes. Effectively, he is an illegitimate president.

He was selected by “winner-take-all” state rules crafted during the Jim Crow era to suppress minority votes. It should have been abolished long ago.

Even so, this was not a win based on “Democratic” or “Republican” principles. This was a win based on hatred, discrimination and division.

You just helped put in the highest office in the land, a man who’s been endorsed by the KKK, a man who’s demonstrated every trait we’ve been taught to despise since kindergarten ― lying, cheating, hatefulness, pettiness, name-calling, selfishness, bigotry, bravado–you get the picture.

Basically, Trump is the exact opposite of what we’re taught a president should be, let alone a human being.

Why was he elected?

For my part, the only conclusion I can draw, when you get right down to it, is greed; you only care about your perceived self-interest.

You only care about your taxes being lowered and/or your business saving a few bucks ― if that’s even going to be possible at this point.

What other reason is there?

Believe me, I’m no fan of Hillary, either. I, too, feel that 90 percent of our current politicians/leaders are corrupt and/or incompetent. Just look at what a political hack FBI Director James Comey turned out to be–and this guy runs one of the most powerful law enforcement agencies on earth.

I get it. But, if you think your vote for Trump did anything to improve your quality of life, or, more importantly, your children’s quality of life, I feel sorry for you.

Do you really think that by casting your vote for Trump you’ve made anything better? Aren’t you the least bit concerned you just helped elect a man to the Presidency, whom, aside from being void of basic class and decency, seeks to abolish a woman’s right to choose?

Maybe you don’t give a shit about gay/lesbian rights, either.

Perhaps you’re willing to look the other way when it comes to civil rights and the rights of naturalized citizens.

Maybe you have no interest in the preservation of our planet and its lands.

How about a desire to move away from fossil fuels toward a clean, /green future? Do you not believe in climate change and global warming?

Are you seriously ― and it’s horrific if you are ― looking forward to another ”Scalia” sitting on the Supreme Court?

Do you agree with Citizens United and corporations being treated as individuals?

Do you support putting more guns in the hands of out-of-control psychopaths?

Do you believe that spending $80 billion dollars on a few more F-15s is how to defeat an ideology as determined as ISIS?

Do you not think that that money would be better spent strengthening our schools? Do you want your children to grow up in a country that considers every person of color a “suspect?”

Well, you must.

Because, if you have any concept of what a Republican president ― especially this guy ― with a Republican-controlled House and Senate means in this day and age, you just signed your name – and mine – to a contract there’s no going back on.

And for what? Lower taxes? Don’t count on it.

These are not Reagan republicans. There’s about as much chance of the Reagan-era Republican making a comeback as Elvis. The last thing Republicans represent these days is you and me.

Rather, they seek simply to maintain the status quo on behalf of corporations, while proudly wearing the moniker of spiteful, back-stabbing, hypocritical, petty infants who would rather see this country involved in another civil war than be a part of real change.

FYI: For those of you who cast your vote for Trump because you wanted to “send a message,” because you believe our current leaders don’t give a shit about me or you, I hope you see the irony in electing the one guy whose sense of self-importance and ego dwarfs that of even the most selfish politicians.

You really believe a guy who buys things for himself using money from his own charity, is going to do something for you? I’m sorry, but that’s just laughable.

The inevitable trade-offs and setbacks we’re now going to be forced to suffer as a nation, in so many sensitive areas and on so many critical fronts will be epically disproportionate to the reward.

Trust me, I want to shake up the system as badly as you. But at what cost?

David Fagin is a New York writer, producer and musician. His resume boasts an incredibly diverse range of contributions, from top news sites such as Salon, TheImproper, AOL News, Yahoo and The Huffington Post to a wide-range of humorous entities such as The Onion, The Muppets, Comedy Central, Dennis Miller, and Howard Stern. He is fascinated by technology and social media and the seemingly love/hate relationship we have with the changing world. He is also a food snob.